Last week, Eugene Monroe publicly advocated for marijuana research.
This week, he’s at it again. After the NFL finally admitted that playing football is linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) (ya think?), he says they should consider marijuana as an alternative medicine to treat it. Monroe took to Twitter to air those concerns.
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
With this admittance, let's be proactive.
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Let's research how cannabinoids may help curb traumatic brain injury
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
If you're a player and you see this, you better stand up. It's about damn time
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
I'm not here advocating smoking weed for recreational purposes. However, smoking weed just may protect your brain
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Get over the "stigma" we all know marijuana is not dangerous in any means
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Just check out the most simple statistics
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Think about that the next time you have a drink at the bar after work
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Or you share beers and shots at a fundraiser
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
We're talking about funding RESEARCH!
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Even our government recognizes marijuana has medical benefits
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
It's a shame that Roger Goodell would tell or fans there's no medical vs recreational distinction
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Marijuana is legal is some form whether medical or recreational in each super bowl winners state since 2012
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Even Baltimore, with the medical program coming online improving health, wellness and saving lives later this year
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Now that people aren't AFRAID to speak out, we know our top performing athletes openly admit their use and marijuanas benefits
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Let's do some #RESEARCH
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Please. Let's stop this from happening.
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
If you're a player and you see this. Junior Seau and many others. Yes, it can be us too.
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
CBD may be the "smoking gun" in curbing these CTE related suicides.
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
let's #research and find out
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Any coach, fan, GM, owner or anyone concerned about the player being "high" should know that they already are, on prescribed opioids
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Gastrointestinal issues from indomethacin, Celebrex. Etc
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Do you really care about players health?
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
And, CBD based products are non psychoactive! Health benefits minus an altered state of mind
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
If I'm a fan, I'm pissed at the time I wasted listening to Goodell lie to me at the Super Bowl. As a player I sure am
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Let's do some #research
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
“You’re hitting each other as hard as possible every single day in practice. Your body is in pain a lot of time,” Monroe told CNN last week. According to him, marijuana seems like a relatively safe way to manage that pain, compared to highly addictive substances like opioids and noninflammatory medications.
“All over our country people are addicted, and that’s happening in our locker rooms,” Monroe said.
But the league, despite the country moving toward a more accepting view of marijuana use, hasn’t softened its stance.
The NFL Players Association said, “Marijuana is currently a banned substance under the collectively bargained Substances of Abuse Policy. Both parties to the Policy (NFL and NFLPA) seek guidance from the independent medical professionals who administer the policy, and no change to marijuana’s status as a banned substance has been recommended by those medical professionals.”
Are these the same medical professionals who weren’t willing to accept that playing football was linked to CTEÂ until yesterday?
The league’s public statements on health have never seemed like much of anything other than public relations. They’re often wrong, outdated, and stubborn to a fault. But this stance in particular seems especially hardline.
According to Forbes, there is some research to suggest that Monroe is right. A National Institute of Health study found that Cannabidiol and Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabidol (THC), two of the active ingredients of marijuana, have neuro-protective qualities.
But more research needs to be done.
The NFL should be the one to fund it.
They are finally willing to admit that there is a long-term health problem associated with playing football. It’s their duty to be ahead of the curve – for once – and research any prevention method possible.
Even if some will call them hypocrites at first.
It will be worth it to save the sport.
UPDATE: The NFL has now distanced itself from the testimony of Jeff Miller, the NFL senior vice president of health and safety. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy released this statement:
“[Jeff Miller] was discussing Dr. Mckee’s findings and made the additional point that a lot more questions need to be answered. He said that the experts should speak to the state of the science.”
